Details

Last Updated: Friday, 23 May 2025 10:57

Published: Friday, 23 May 2025 10:57

Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) this week (Special Meeting May 21, 2025) endorsed Project Agreements relating to the construction and operation of the Toowoomba to Warwick Pipeline.

TRC Deputy Mayor and Strategic Water Planning and Capital Delivery portfolio spokesperson Cr Rebecca Vonhoff said the resolutions allowed Council to enter into respective agreements and arrangements with Seqwater and Southern Downs Regional Council to advance the project. (Seqwater and Southern Downs Regional Council will finalise their respective agreements at a later date.)

Cr Vonhoff said the resolutions were a major step forward for the project and gave effect to earlier Council resolutions that outlined broad support for the project.

“Council officers have been working with Seqwater representatives and respective legal counsels to finalise a draft Bulk Water Supply Agreement – Water Transportation and a draft Interface Agreement,” Cr Vonhoff said.

“This is in addition to ongoing negotiations with Southern Downs Regional Council officers around terms to transport water between Wivenhoe Dam and the start of the Toowoomba to Warwick Pipeline.

“Seqwater and TRC officers also have negotiated terms to allow water to be transported from Wivenhoe Dam for the commissioning of water for the Toowoomba to Warwick Pipeline, and in exchange for this Seqwater will store water discharged from Cressbrook Dam as part of the Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project. This agreement was negotiated as a deed of variation to the existing Bulk Water Supply Agreement.”

“Council is pleased to proceed with arrangements that will transport water to Southern Downs in times of drought, while ensuring there will be no adverse effects on our Region’s water security or additional costs to our ratepayers.”

Cr Vonhoff said the Bulk Water Supply (Transport) Agreement ensured Council’s access and use of the Toowoomba to Warwick Pipeline to supply raw water to the Greenmount and Southern Water Treatment Plant, which will supply drinking water to Cambooya, Greenmount, Nobby and Clifton.

Council also endorsed waiving the fees associated with permits allowing works on roads due to the significant benefits that will be derived from the project.

The Toowoomba to Warwick Pipeline will be owned, maintained and operated by Seqwater.